The Group 3 Howard Ashton is a highly sought-after feature in the festival state, open to South Australian-bred greyhounds whelped between January 1 and June 30 two years prior to the running of the feature each year.
The Howard Ashton is a three-week series, comprising of heats, semi-finals, and a final, with the feature run over the 515m trip at Angle Park and worth $25,000 to the winner.
The 2024 Howard Ashton series was won by Yoda Lady for trainer Lauren Harris.
Being a Group 3 restricted race, Howard Ashton betting will not be opened until closer to the race.
The final field will be released after the heats have been run.
While it isn’t a headline feature on the Australian greyhound racing calendar, the Howard Ashton still attracts quality fields each year, which means there is always plenty of betting interest on the series.
Our top greyhound bookmakers offer fixed odds betting on the heat, semi-finals, and final once the field and box draw have been confirmed.
Punters can also secure odds for the winner of the final prior to the heats, with some of our bookmakers, such as Bet365 offering all-in markets, giving you the opportunity to land some value if you think you can spot the winner early in the series.
Formerly run as the SA Breeders Plate, the event was first run in 1975 when taken out by Fast Velocity, since then it has been taken out by some of the top chasers to have emerged from the state.
The 2005 edition of the SA Breeders Plate was won by Satanic Miss, with the black and white bitch clocking a fast 29.88 over the 515m trip for Robert Isaacson. The daughter of Go Wild Teddy and Patchwork Gem would go on to become a terrific producer, once making the move to the breeding barn, producing former top stayer Satanic Cash from her 2007 mating to Big Daddy Cool. Satanic Cash won an incredible 37 races throughout his career and was a finalist in the Sandown Cup, the Super Stayers and the AWM Distance Championship.
In 2007 the race was taken out by Emerley Carlos, trained by Peter and Judi Hurley, with the son of Royal Assassin and Eudunda Eudunda going on to become a leading SA sire, one of his best progeny being Fire Tyson, a finalist in the 2013 Group 1 Adelaide Cup.
2011 saw the brilliant sprinter Hannah McLaren take home the title, with the brindle daughter of Bit Chili and Nimuay Lass scoring in a credible 30.28.
The race was renamed the Howard Ashton in 2013 to mark the contribution made by the race’s namesake to the sport of greyhound racing within SA.
Ashton was the secretary manager at Angle Park (which also hosts the Adelaide Cup) between 1971 and 1996, at which point he became the Racing Operations Manager until his retirement in 2000.
Ashton is a life member of the Adelaide Greyhound Racing Club (AGRC) and has an upstairs room at Angle Park named in his honour, while he is also an inductee in the Australian Greyhound Racing Association (AGRA) Hall of Fame alongside some of the greatest names the sport has seen.
Fittingly, in the first year the race was named in his honour, the Howard Ashton was won by Victa Brooke, trained by Ashton’s longtime friend Ron Schadow.
In recent years, the Howard Ashton has continued to highlight emerging talent. The 2023 edition saw Victa Damian dominate the final, winning by nine lengths in 30.21 seconds, shortly after equalling the track record in his heat with a 29.86-second run.
The 2024 final was claimed by Yoda Lady, who secured her sixth consecutive city win, showcasing the ongoing prominence of locally bred greyhounds in the event.
The Howard Ashton remains a cornerstone of South Australian greyhound racing, celebrating the legacy of a significant contributor to the sport and providing a platform for the state’s bred greyhounds to shine on a prominent stage.
The 2021 Howard Ashton final was held at Gawler due to renovations at Angle Park. Victa Haydn, trained by Tony Rasmussen, emerged victorious in the 531m race, finishing in 30.90 seconds. With a 1.5-length lead over sibling Victa Grosso, Victa Haydn’s performance was a testament to the Rasmussen kennel’s excellence.
2021 Howard Ashton Final Results
In 2020, Coorong Lucy, under the training of Cameron Butcher, delivered a standout performance in the Howard Ashton final at Angle Park. Completing the 515m race in 29.57 seconds, she secured a 3-length victory over Born Lovely, highlighting her exceptional speed and racing acumen.
2020 Howard Ashton Final Results
In 2019, Querenica claimed the Howard Ashton title at Angle Park with a strong performance over 515m. Trained by K. Corby, Querenica completed the race in 29.49 seconds, pulling away to secure a 3-length victory over Oakvale Beauty. The win marked a significant moment for the rising star in South Australian greyhound racing.
2019 Howard Ashton Final Results
Trainer Barry Stewart prepared up and coming runner Waterloo Kate to her finest win to date. Making the most of the inside draw Waterloo Kate punched up to lead after a tardy beginning and was never headed. She had made a habit of finishing over the top of her competitors but Waterloo Kate relished the opportunity to win from the front.
2018 Howard Ashton results
May 31, 2018. May 31, 2018 Angle Park. First Prize $36,575
Ben Rawlings secured back-to-back wins in the Howard Ashton after front running Crunchin Numbers delivered from box four. After surging to the front heading to the first turn the sprinter held off the late chargers to win by a solid length.
2017 Howard Ashton results
June 1, 2017. June 1, 2017 Angle Park. First Prize $36,575
Young trainer Ben Rawlings took out the most recent edition of the Group 3 Howard Ashton with his promising youngster Wilba Beast. The son of El Galo and Mighty Chaos defeated a top field including Garry Mcbain and Don’t Kid Me to take home the $25,000 first prize.
2016 Howard Ashton results
June 2, 2016. Angle Park First Prize $25,000
The 2015 running of the Howard Ashton was taken out by Galactic Viper for trainer David Geal, with the black dog scoring by a widening six lengths in a slick 29.83.
2015 Howard Ashton results
June 11, 2015. Angle Park $84,700
Bozidar Stamenkovic collected his second Howard Ashton/SA Breeders Plate within the space of three years when Boojerooma scored in 2014. The daughter of Collision and Koombooyana Star gained a start in the feature off box one following the scratching of her litter mate and kennel mate Koombooyana Kid and was sent to the boxes at double figure odds.
Despite the big price, the black bitch dug deep to claim the lead in the closing stages to score by a length over Wingard in 29.83.
2014 Howard Ashton results
May 29, 2014. Angle Park First Prize $25,000
Victa Brooke showed brilliant speed from box four to take out the first edition of the race after it was renamed the Howard Ashton. The brindle bitch took advantage of a scrimmage behind her to kick clear from the remainder of the field, saluting the judge nine lengths clear of her rivals to score in a flying 29.77.
2013 Howard Ashton results
May 30, 2013. Angle Park First Prize $25,000
| Year | Dist. | Winner | Margin | Time | Trainer | Runner-up | Boxes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1975 | 512m | Fast Velocity | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? |
| 1976 | 512m | Fullkiri Chief | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? |
| 1977 | 512m | Shannon’s Beauty | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? |
| 1978 | SERIES NOT CONDUCTED | ||||||
| 1979 | 512m | Noisy Band | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? |
| 1980 | 512m | Come On Baden | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? |
| 1981 | 512m | Stingray Plus | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? |
| 1982 | 512m | Lezabarda | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? |
| 1983 | 512m | Future Aim | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? |
| 1984 | 512m | Dan O’Pandee | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? |
| 1985 | 512m | Dodge City | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? |
| 1986 | 512m | Tempix True | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? |
| 1987 | 512m | Chariot Moss | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? |
| 1988 | 512m | Julep | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? |
| 1989 | 512m | Kinta’s Ace | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? |
| 1990 | 512m | First Issue | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? |
| 1991 | 512m | Silver Hill | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? |
| 1992 | 512m | Ice Bear | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? |
| 1993 | 512m | Croation Star | 4-3/4L | 29.68sec | J. Perovic | Pretty Neat Goer | 1,5,2 |
| 1994 | 512m | Gemtrea Comet | 8-1/2L | 30.08sec | G. Rehmann | Moonta Man | 6,3,7 |
| 1995 | 512m | Chopper Harley | 1L | 29.74sec | B. Mackie | Spruco’s Me Mum | 6,1,2 |
| 1996 | 512m | Salumae | 3-3/4L | 29.90sec | R. Cook | Top Hale | 1,2,7 |
| 1997 | 512m | Slipaway Charlie | 12L | 29.64sec | H. Geraghty | Rendezous Kelly | 3,1,8 |
| 1998 | 515m | Buncrana | 9-1/2L | 29.87sec | R. Murray | Cranky Cas | 7,5,2 |
| 1999 | 515m | Janelle | 3/4L | 30.15sec | C. Cotton | Criticize | 3,6,2 |
| 2000 | 515m | Mary Jo McLaren | 3-1/2L | 29.81sec | H. Foster | Coulta Bandit | 2,3,6 |
| 2001 | 515m | Likely Excuse | 3-1/2L | 29.72sec | M. Wittholz | Universal Lady | 3,7,8 |
| 2002 | 515m | Phantom Devil | 8-1/4L | 29.63sec | L. Kraemer | General Image | 1,2,8 |
| 2003 | 515m | Oaktrea Raider | Neck | 30.57sec | K. Wittholz | Mayorcan Kid | 8,1,3 |
| 2004 | 515m | Give Me Dosh | 2L | 29.51sec | N. Aiken | Brute Bernard | 6,1,5 |
| 2005 | 515m | Satanic Miss | 6L | 29.88sec | R. Isaacson | Go Wild Cosmo | 5,2,1 |
| 2006 | 515m | Lucky Pristine | 3-1/2L | 29.71sec | D. Knocker | Fear No One | 4,6,1 |
| 2007 | 515m | Emerley Carlos | 4-1/2L | 29.59sec | P. Hurley | Token Cabernet | 4,1,8 |
| 2008 | 515m | Elegant Vintage | 1L | 30.21sec | S. Matcott | Very Cool | 3,6,7 |
| 2009 | 515m | Gold | 3-1/2L | 30.10sec | P. Barry | Emerley Who | 2,1,5 |
| 2010 | 515m | Tomic | 4-1/4L | 29.77sec | P. Jovanovic | Where’s Pancho | 2,5,6 |
| 2011 | 515m | Hannah McLaren | 6L | 30.28sec | D. Foster | Atlanta McLaren | 5,4,8 |
| 2012 | 515m | My Little Star | 2-1/2L | 30.51sec | B. Stamenkovic | Don’t Panic | 1,5,3 |
| 2013 | 515m | Victa Brooke | 9L | 29.77sec | R. Schadow | Flying Tee | 4,2,8 |
| 2014 | 515m | Boojerooma | 1L | 29.83sec | B. Stamenkovic | Wingard | 9,6,4 |
| 2015 | 515m | Galactic Viper | 6L | 29.83sec | D. Geall | Lucy Fergo | 6,3,7 |
| 2016 | 515m | Wilba Beast | 2L | 29.66sec | B. Rawlings | Team Roper | 3,6,2 |
| 2017 | 515m | Crunchin Numbers | 1L | 30.19sec | B. Rawlings | Victa Ollie | 4,5,8 |
| 2018 | 515m | Waterloo Kate | 3-1/2L | 30.33sec | B. Stewart | Minacious | 1,2,4 |
| 2019 | 515m | Querenica | 3L | 29.49sec | K. Corby | Oakvale Beauty | 5,4,1 |
| 2020 | 515m | Coorong Lucy | 3L | 29.57sec | C. Butcher | Born Lovely | 7,2,3 |
| 2021 | 531m | Victa Haydn | 1-1/2L | 30.90sec | T. Rasmussen | Victa Grosso | 3,2,7 |
| 2022 | 530m | Springvale Max | 3/4L | 30.42sec | G. Harris | He’s All Purpose | 6,1,3 |
| 2023 | 530m | Victa Damian | 9-1/4L | 30.21sec | L. Rasmussen | Live It | 1,6,8 |
| 2024 | 530m | Yoda Lady | 1-1/2L | 30.85sec | L. Harris | Zinfandel Evie | 2,3,7 |